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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Asian Chicken Salad with a Soy-Free Dressing

With school starting and all of the after-school activities that go with it, our schedules have been very full lately. Posting to my blog seems to be on the back burner for now. Though I recently created this very easy salad recipe that I wanted to share with you. The soy-free dressing is scrumptious and the salad can be prepared in a snap. It actually stores well in the fridge in separate containers ready to go for a quick lunch!

I make often make my Asian dressings and marinades using Coconut Aminos since we have one family member who cannot tolerate soy at all. It is dark and rich and very similar to tamari though with a hint of sweetness. I also used coconut vinegar in this recipe though you could substitute brown rice vinegar if need be.

All of the greens in these photos are from our garden except the cabbage. I ran out of space this year and didn't plant any cabbage! Our garden has been thriving this year and we now have a forest of tender kales, collards, bok choy, chard, and lettuces. It is so much fun to walk out the back door and harvest your lunch!

For info on how to cook chicken so it is tender and shreds easily, please visit my Chicken & Wild Rice Salad post. You can use a whole chicken or chicken parts (thighs, breast, wings). I used about eight chicken thighs with the bone and skin today and now have a few quarts of rich chicken stock. I freeze the stock in quart jars to use in soups later on.

Reminder: If you would like to participate in this month's Go Ahead Honey it's Gluten Free roundup on Packing a School Lunch then email me your recipe link and attached photo by September 27th, 2010. I have received some great entries so far! At the end of this month I will put all of your photos and recipe links into a blog post to share.

Asian Chicken Salad Recipe

This salad is a nutritious combination of thinly sliced dark leafy greens, crunchy almonds, carrots, and chicken. You could use sliced almonds in place of the slivered. Try adding daikon radish, chopped cilantro, and sliced green onions too! A great way to thinly slice the greens is to stack them on top of each other then roll them. Take a sharp knife and cut into thin slices. Another name for this cutting method is called chiffonade.

Toss all of the ingredients for the salad into a large bowl if serving immediately. If you want to stretch the salad over a few days place all ingredients into separate containers and store in the fridge. Use what you would like for each serving.

To make the dressing, place all ingredients into a blender and blend on high until combined. Pour dressing over salad, toss and serve. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired. Source: www.NourishingMeals.com

About the Author

Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University. She is the founder of Whole Life Nutrition, the mother of five children, a whole foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them, and offers elimination diet recipes, healthy gluten-free recipes, paleo and vegan recipes, as well as tips for feeding your family a nourishing, whole foods diet. Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram!

13 comments:

I love your blog. I'm going to try this recipe. I did buy the coconut amino & used them. They tasted great but, I had a reaction. I'm not allergic to coconut to my knowledge. I'm going try the recipe with your other suggestions. Thanks for the great blog. I visit all the time. Terri

Ali, thanks for sharing this wonderful looking recipe! I appreciate your willingness to share your wisdom through your blog, and I strongly encourage readers who have not already to purchase your cookbook, an amazing piece of work.

I just discovered your blog, and I´m so excited that it´s possible to bake real gluten-free bread. I just ordered some teff flour, which is a little difficult, here in Spain. Hope it arrives soon. All the recipes here are gorgeous. And follow the Seignalet diet, so I´m really impressed. Thanks a lot!

Welcome to my blog!

Hi! My name is Alissa Segersten and I've had a love of healthy food and cooking since the age of 10. I have my degree in Nutrition from Bastyr University and am the author of three {gluten-free} food and nutrition books. When I was pregnant with my first daughter in 2001, I diligently began writing down my recipes because so many people would ask for them! Some of these recipes appeared in my first book, The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook. I now have 5 children and am passionate about educating them about our food system so they can make the most informed choices as they grow up and are exposed to a world of processed, chemical-laden foods. Join me in my mission of helping to support families with nourishing meals! Read more about me here.